The Cardinal: Elder Brother to The Duchess of Malfi and Ferdinand

LIKES: 


To exercise power, preferably through intimidation. The feeling of dominance arising from my intellectual superiority and my prowess at tennis, single combat etc. To seduce noblemen’s wives – because it is forbidden by my vows and belittles the cuckolds – any physical pleasure (given or received) is incidental. Favourite book – “Il Principe” by Niccolo Machiavelli. – “It is better to be feared than loved.” A plan that comes together.

HATES (THE CARDINAL DOES NOT USE WISHY-WASHY EMOTIONS LIKE ‘DISLIKE’: 


Boredom. Piety. People – pretty all-encompassing, but I can’t think of an exception. Any answer beginning with the word “No”. Any slight (true, false or imagined) against the family name

ABOUT THE CARDINAL: 

“I am the pre-eminent churchman of my time, although the underhand and illegal activities of my enemies robbed me of the office of Pope at the last papal elections.  I have the royal blood of Aragon and Castile in my veins and it is my life’s work to uphold the dignity and glory of that heritage by any means. Everything I do is in the furtherance of my family honour and therefore I acknowledge nothing as a virtue if it does not further this end, nor anything as a vice if it does.“


FAVOURITE CARDINAL QUOTE: 


“How tedious is a guilty conscience!”


PLAYED BY: 

Paul French

Book your tickets for the Duchess of Malfi at the Theatre Royal Studio. And stay tuned for more character updates! 


The Duchess of Malfi is on 6 March- 16 March at 7:45pm. 
There’s a Saturday matinee on 16 March at 2:00pm.